You are here: Home/Press Room/ ‘Reckless’: ED John Tierney on Open Skies Treaty withdrawal

May 21, 2020

‘Reckless’: ED John Tierney on Open Skies Treaty withdrawal

(MAY 21 – WASHINGTON) In response to the announcement that the United States would withdraw from the 1992 Open Skies Treaty, Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation Executive Director and former nine-term Congressman John Tierney (D-MA) released the following statement:

“It is not surprising that President Trump would pull out of yet another important treaty, because this has become a reckless pattern for his administration. The Open Skies Treaty has built trust, provided stability, and eased tensions between the United States, Russia and 32 other countries across the Euro-Atlantic region. The transparency it provides has helped prevent miscalculations and misunderstandings that could have otherwise led to conflict. In fact, the treaty has been providing vital information to the United States and its allies following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. There are some compliance problems with the treaty, but experts and our allies believe they can and must be solved. President Trump should reverse this decision, recommit to working with our allies to fix issues with the Open Skies Treaty and get rid of the staff who keep trying to wreck the global arms control and nonproliferation infrastructure in his name.”